Alverno Heights Academy Upper School Will Close Its Doors in June

[Updated]   Alverno Heights Academy Upper School, a private Catholic girls’ school in Sierra Madre on its border with East Pasadena, will close at the end of this academic year due to declining enrollment and financial challenges.

The school announced its decision in a letter to parents and alumnae on Tuesday, saying it had hoped for a different outcome but could not sustain its future.

“Several factors have contributed to our decision, with enrollment being the major issue,” the letter said. “Our enrollment has declined 50% in recent years, from approximately 220 students in 2011 to 110 today.”

Alverno Heights Board of Trustees President Ken Farfsing and Head of School Julia V. Fanara signed the letter.

It also cited the need for tuition assistance, which has increased significantly in recent years, and the lack of sufficient fundraising to offset operating budget shortfalls and capital improvements.

The school said it would need to increase enrollment to a minimum of 200 students and substantially increase its annual fundraising goals while also reducing financial assistance to ensure long-term viability.

“Despite the unwavering dedication of our all-volunteer Board of Trustees and the school’s leadership team, as well as the extraordinary talents and loyalty of our faculty and staff, the support of our alumnae, and the generosity of our donors, it has become clear to the Board that the Upper School is no longer sustainable,” the letter said.

The Upper School will close on June 2, 2023. The school said it will assist students with transferring to other schools and provide counseling services for them and their families.

The Lower School, which serves grades K-8 and has a healthy enrollment, will remain open and unaffected by the closure of the Upper School.

Alverno Heights Academy was founded in 1960 by the Sisters of St. Francis who later sold the school to the Immaculate Heart Community. In the 1970s, the name was changed to Alverno High School. Alverno returned to its original name of Alverno Heights Academy in 2016. A TK-8, co-ed Lower School was added to the campus in 2020. Alverno will remain an independent, Catholic school.